Folate salts

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to crystalline folate salts. The salt consists of a folate anion and an organic cation. The folate anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, and the cation is an organic compound which is an alkanolamine selected from the group consisting of choline, N-methylaminoethanol, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol and 2-dimethylaminoethanol.

The invention relates to folate salts, their preparation and compositions comprising the same.

Depression and other mental health disorders such as dementia, autism, ADHD and Alzheimer, as well as chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes type 1 and 2, vascular diseases, and cancer are a growing burden for patients and the health care systems, especially in view of the aging population. There are various reasons for these different diseases; however, as a common risk factor a suboptimal folate-status has been found, in the whole body or in specific tissues.

It is well known that vitamins of the B-complex group are involved in numerous metabolic processes of the body, e.g. in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose, which is metabolized to produce energy. These vitamins are further essential in the breakdown of fats and proteins and play an important role in maintaining muscle tone along the lining of the digestive tract and promoting health of the nervous system, and e.g. eyes, skin, hair, liver and kidney.

In addition, it is known that folate is compulsory in the production and maintenance of new cells. Especially important in times of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy. Folate is needed to replicate DNA. Thus, folate deficiency hinders DNA synthesis and cell division, affecting most clinically the bone marrow, a site of rapid cell turnover. Because RNA and protein synthesis is not hindered, large red blood cells, i.e. megaloblasts, are produced, resulting in macrocytic anemia, such as megaloblastic anemia, as may be seen in celiac disease, and in anemias of nutritional origin, or in pregnancy, infancy, or childhood. Accordingly, both adults, especially elderly, and children need folate to make normal red blood cells and prevent anemia. Folate also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer.

Folate derivatives such as diverse tetrahydrofolic acid derivatives may also be used as drug or as basic substance for the preparation of other derivatives. Yet, also tetrahydrofolic acid and the derivatives thereof are known to possess an extreme instability, particularly due to their susceptibility to oxidation. In particular, 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid (Folinic acid, Leucovorin) and its biologically active 5-formyl-(6S) form has importance as a drug ingredient mainly in oncology, as concomitant therapy with methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil treatment, and in the treatment of folate deficiency anemia associated with pregnancy, antibiotic therapy etc. Among folates and reduced folates, the calcium salts can be mentioned as the most relatively stable derivatives: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,817,659 and 6,441,168 disclose crystalline salts, preferably calcium salts, of 5-methyl-(6R, S)-, (6S)- or (6R)-tetrahydrofolic acid having a water of crystallization of at least one equivalent per equivalent of said acid. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is the only folic acid derivative on the market which can directly penetrate the blood/brain barrier without further metabolism. Naturally occurring 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid is solely in the 6S form; the 6R form is considered biochemically inactive and is excreted through the kidney. Besides, several compositions for human and animal consumption, comprising either folates and/or reduced folates, have been reported, in various forms and together with vitamins, arginine, lysine, thiamine and/or other active ingredients, either as a nutritional supplement or for the treatment and prevention of various diseases such as, for instance, neurological, pathophysiological, cardiovascular diseases, arthritic and inflammation conditions.

Various folate salts are known. In general, these salts comprise a folate and an inorganic cation such as calcium and magnesium. These alkaline earth metal cations are inert insofar that they themselves do not show any pharmacological effect in humans. The scarce solubility in aqueous solutions of such salts has been widely reported. Aqueous compositions with improved solubility and stability of folates have been disclosed, e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,301,922 and 9,642,853.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,581 discloses diastereomer separation of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid using ammonium salts. WO 2018/178142 describes binary salts of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid comprising sodium and an organic base. US 2016/0207925 discloses salts of L-methyl-folate comprising amino acids such as L-arginine and L-asparagine. The salts are lyophilized and appear to be amorphous. U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,271 describes a process for the preparation, separation and purification of (6S) and (6R) diastereomers of folinic acid. Further, WO 2009/103334 discloses freeze or spray dried glucosamine and galactosamine salts of L-methyl-tetrahydrofolate. WO 2009/103333 describes a process for the separation of (6R) and (6S) diastereomers of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid using an organic base in the form of a phenylethyl-amine or a naphthylethyl-amine compound to obtain pure and stable diastereomers. CN 107304212 discloses a process for the preparation of amorphous L-methyl-tetrahydrofolate amino acid salts. WO 93/17022 describes a process for the separation of stereoisomers of folinic acid. The separation is achieved by salification of (R/S) folinic acid with a di- or polyamines and subsequent selective crystallization of the (6S) diastereomer of folinic acid.

In addition, numerous compositions of folates comprising folates and further compounds such as vitamins, lysine, thiamin and other active ingredients have been described. However, stable salts of folates with a good solubility in water and also in organic solvents would allow more versatile pharmaceutical compositions.

The object of the present invention is to provide folate salts combining a further active compound and showing a good stability and a good solubility in water and also in apolar solvents.

The object is achieved by a folate salt according to the present invention as defined in claim 1. Further preferred embodiments are subject to the dependent claims.

As a high solubility in an apolar solvent is considered a solubility of higher than 2 weight-% (w/w) of a particular folate salt in a particular organic or apolar solvent based on the total weight of the solution. Solubility has been determined at 20° C. Apolar solvents or mixtures thereof are for instance glycerol, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and dimethylsulfoxid (DMSO). Apolar solvents are understood as dry solvents, that is without any water content. Apolar solvents may be pure solvents, comprising only one type of apolar solvent or it may be a mixture of at least two of the aforementioned apolar solvents. Polarity is in comparison to the polarity of water.

A high degree of crystallinity means that the crystalline content of the folate salt is higher than 40% based on the total amount of the folate salt. Thus, a crystalline folate salt is understood as a folate salt having crystalline content of more than 40%. The degree of crystallinity is determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.

A folate salt according to the present invention consists of a tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation. The anion is a folate, preferably 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid. Further, the cation is an organic compound wherein the organic compound is an alkanolamine which is selected from the group consisting of choline, N-methylaminoethanol, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol or 2-dimethyl-aminoethanol.

A crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the folate salts have a high solubility in organic solvents. A high solubility in organic solvents is understood as a solubility of more than 2 weight-% based on the total weight of the solution.

In a further embodiment the anion of the folate salt may also be 5-formyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid. Possible organic cations are selected from the same group, i.e. from the group consisting of choline, N-methyl-aminoethanol, 2-dimethyl-aminoethanol, and 2-amino-2-methyl-propanol.

Crystalline folate salts according to the present invention show a high stability and also a high solubility in water and apolar solvents.

An additional counter-ion for the anions of the folate salt, 5-formyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid or 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, may be the organic cation arginine.

In a preferred embodiment, the crystalline folate salt consists of tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation. The anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid. The cation is di-choline.

In another embodiment, the crystalline folate salt consists of tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation, wherein the anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, and wherein the cation is mono-2-dimethylaminoethanol.

In another embodiment, the crystalline folate salt consists of tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation, wherein the anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, and wherein the cation is N-methyl aminoethanol.

In further embodiment, the crystalline folate salt consists of tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation, wherein the anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, and wherein the cation is 2-amino-2-methylpropanol.

In a further embodiment, the crystalline folate salt consists of the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is di-choline, wherein the ¹H-NMR shifts in D₂O are

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.60 d 2H 6.68 d 2H 4.24 m 1H 3.98 m 4H 3.44 m 1H 3.43 m 4H 3.25 m 1H 3.11 s 18H 3.10 m 1H 3.01 m 1H 2.91 m 1H 2.47 S 3H 2.24 m 2H 2.09 m 1H 1.96 m 1H

In a further embodiment, the crystalline tetrahydrofolic acid salt consists of the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is di-2-dimethylaminoethanol wherein the ¹H-NMR shifts in D₂O are

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.56 d 2H 6.65 d 2H 4.19 m 1H 3.77 t 4H 3.40 dd 1H 3.20 d 1H 3.14 t 4H 3.03 m 1H 2.98 m 1H 2.88 m 1H 2.78 s 12H 2.42 s 3H 2.19 m 2H 2.04 m 1H 1.90 m 1H

In a further embodiment, the crystalline tetrahydrofolic acid salt consists of the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is mono-2-dimethylaminoethanol wherein the ¹H-NMR shifts in D₂O are

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.52 d 2H 6.67 d 2H 4.22 m 1H 3.77 t 2H 3.54 d 1H 3.44 m 1H 3.36 d 1H 3.16 t 2H 3.13 m 2H 2.80 s 6H 2.72 s 3H 2.25 m 2H 2.08 m 1H 1.93 m 1H

In a further embodiment, the crystalline tetrahydrofolic acid salt consists of the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is di N-methylaminoethanol wherein the ¹H-NMR shifts in D₂O are

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.55 d 2H 6.64 d 2H 4.19 m 1H 3.73 t 4H 3.39 dd 1H 3.19 d 1H 3.06 t 4H 3.01 m 1H 2.96 m 1H 2.86 m 1H 2.63 s 6H 2.41 s 3H 2.20 m 2H 2.04 m 1H 1.92 m 1H

In a further embodiment, the crystalline tetrahydrofolic acid salt consists of the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is di 2-amino-2-methyl propanol wherein the ¹H-NMR shifts in D₂O are

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.61 d 2H 6.70 d 2H 4.25 m 1H 3.49 s 4H 3.45 dd 1H 3.25 d 1H 3.08 m 1H 2.93 m 1H 2.48 s 3H 2.24 m 2H 2.09 m 1H 1.96 m 1H 1.25 s 1H

In a further preferred embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one folate salt according to the present invention as the main active compound. The composition further comprises at least a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The composition may for instance comprise a buffer compound. Suitable and preferred buffer compounds are trometamol and HEPES. Further, an antioxidant compound may be present in the composition. Preferred antioxidant compounds are thioglycerol, dithiothreitol (DTT) and cysteine.

Further, the at least one folate salt according to the present invention is used for the preparation of a medicament, a food additive or a nutritional supplement, for the prevention and/or treatment of either deficiencies or disorders that are positively affected by the administration of a folate salt. There are a number of disease conditions which are positively influenced by compositions comprising folate salts. Such diseases are for instance pathophysiological, neurological and inflammatory diseases.

In addition, a method for preparing the crystalline folate salt according to the present invention, said tetrahydrofolic acid salt consisting of a folate acid anion and an organic cation, comprises the step of adding oxalic acid, alternatively a fluoride salt or directly from the free compounds to an aqueous composition of folate earth alkaline metal salts or free folate acid.

Surprisingly, crystallization was achieved from organic solvents, such as 1-propanol, comprising a limited amount of water, for instance less than 12 weight-% of water, preferably less than 10 weight-% of water. The weight-% of water are based on the total weight of the organic solvent and water. The minimal amount of water is a quantity corresponding to 0.2 weight-% of water in organic solvent. This corresponds to 1 to 170 crystal water equivalents based on the molar quantity of folate. In the isolated folate salts 1.5 to 2 water of crystallization are detected. The organic or apolar solvents are understood to be dry, i.e. comprising no water. Without the water added to the organic solvents in the afore-mentioned quantities, all folate salts precipitate in amorphous form.

The crystalline folate salts according to the present invention are further described in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the X-ray diffractogram of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di Choline salt of example 1;

FIG. 2 shows the X-ray diffractogram of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid mono 2-Dimethylaminoethanol salt of example 3;

FIG. 3 shows the X-ray diffractogram of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di-2-dimethylaminoethanol salt of example 4;

FIG. 4 shows the X-ray diffractogram of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di N-methylaminoethanol salt of example 5; and

FIG. 5 shows the X-ray diffractogram of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di 2-Amino-2-methyl propanol salt of example 6.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di Choline salt

7.00 g (15.23 mmol) of Levomefolic acid was suspended under argon in 70 ml 1-propanol and brought to reflux. Then 7.71 ml (31.99 mmol) of a 47% aqueous solution of cholinhydroxide was added and the mixture stirred under reflux until a clear solution is formed. Then an additional 80 ml 1-propanol was added resulting in a Water concentration in 1-propanol of 3.2% w/w and the solution seeded with a crystalline sample of product. After crystallization sets in at 65° C., the suspension was slowly cooled down from 65° C. to 2-8° C. The suspension was stirred slowly at 2-8° C. for additional 2 h. The grainy crystals were sucked off, washed with cooled 1-propanol and dried to give 7.29 g of the white crystalline crude title compound. Recrystallization under Argon of 7.29 g crude title compound by dissolving in ca 130 ml methanol at 60° C. and evaporated at 60° C. vacuum. The remainder was taken-up in ca 60 ml of 1-propanol and dissolved at 60° C. followed by concentration to final mass of 40 g solution. At 70° C. temperature of the oil bath, the solution was diluted under argon with 22 ml of a mixture of 1-propanol and water (20:2% v/v) at 70° C. (ca 4.0% water in 1-propanol) while from the pale-yellow solution after seeding crystallization started. The temperature of the suspension was stepwise lowered to 20° C. and the crystallization completed by slowly stirring at 2-8° C. The isolated crystals were dried at 60° C./<1 mbar and yielded 5.76 g MTHF di-choline. Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.60 d 2H 6.68 d 2H 4.24 m 1H 3.98 m 4H 3.44 m 1H 3.43 m 4H 3.25 m 1H 3.11 s 18H 3.10 m 1H 3.01 m 1H 2.91 m 1H 2.47 s 3H 2.24 m 2H 2.09 m 1H 1.96 m 1H

-   -   Optical rotation: α^(20D) +33.6° (c=1 H₂O)     -   Crystal water in MTHF di choline: 1.6 calculated (water analysis         by Karl Fischer (KF) & microanalysis)     -   Melting point: 232-233° C. (Differential Scanning Calorimetry         (DSC))

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis:

Peaklist of the Diffractogram

No d Ang-COG I-net FWHM I-rel J-Net 2-Theta 1 17.6149 5.8155 5088.65 0.2764 90 1878.05 5.8216 2 11.0451 9.2958 320.35 0.3760 6 131.19 9.2905 3 8.9627 11.4563 2097.97 0.3840 37 936.77 11.4556 4 7.5765 13.5529 202.00 18.7226 4 99.96 13.5607 5 7.2373 14.1992 460.41 0.8508 8 210.93 14.1994 6 7.0149 14.6342 431.98 0.2524 8 158.36 14.6520 7 6.5167 15.8216 1653.76 0.6104 29 1058.96 15.7790 8 6.2150 16.5491 642.99 0.4488 11 283.29 16.5503 9 5.9229 17.3469 1017.17 0.5232 18 528.76 17.3726 10 5.4527 18.8774 4992.44 0.4222 89 2396.55 18.8837 11 5.0753 20.3057 4352.89 0.4341 77 2195.14 20.3023 12 4.8661 21.1764 3407.01 0.5204 60 1822.80 21.1853 13 4.5973 22.4387 5633.15 0.4240 100 2708.02 22.4395 14 4.3384 23.7939 3535.90 0.4618 63 1925.41 23.7973 15 4.1694 24.7637 1239.98 0.4101 22 541.98 24.7769 16 4.0087 25.7760 831.56 0.4382 15 402.18 25.7869 17 3.8590 26.8120 4491.21 0.6178 80 2982.56 26.8056 18 3.7175 27.8443 1414.54 0.4184 25 694.71 27.8460 19 3.5012 29.6028 1823.55 0.5013 32 1058.01 29.6045 20 3.3931 30.6227 412.39 0.4148 7 168.97 30.5706 21 3.2818 31.6322 1712.11 0.4989 30 981.56 31.6337 22 3.1495 32.9955 320.51 0.5653 6 172.45 33.0000 23 3.0569 34.0194 898.90 0.4588 16 452.57 34.0292 24 2.9605 35.1572 336.68 8.2202 6 108.43 35.1733 25 2.9049 35.8675 545.60 1.0527 10 461.69 35.8695 26 2.8069 37.2239 258.37 0.6132 5 138.86 37.1657 27 2.6910 38.8121 270.28 0.4102 5 111.54 38.8293 28 2.5469 41.0925 600.58 0.8281 11 485.46 41.1230 29 2.5010 41.8533 371.98 0.4503 7 268.17 41.9128 30 2.3851 43.9497 172.63 0.5625 3 88.56 44.0533 31 2.2799 46.1501 262.73 1.2852 5 291.03 46.2000 32 2.2304 47.2739 338.31 0.9782 6 625.42 47.2871 33 2.0761 50.9480 174.51 0.6686 3 106.27 51.0446

Solubilities:

L-MTHF di Choline Methanol Ethanol 1-Propanol DMSO Glycerol as % w/w 38.7% 0.3% 0.2% 31.3% 24.1%

The solubility of crystalline di choline in organic solvents shows a very differentiated picture and seems to be dependent on the degree of crystallinity. If the di choline folate salt is highly crystalline or in other words has a high crystalline content the solubility of the di choline folate salt in ethanol is low, 0.3 weight-% based on the total weight of the solution. At a high amorphous content, the solubility of the di choline folate salt in ethanol is very high (38.8 weight-%). Further, in mixtures of organic solvents, e.g. ethanol with 5 weight-% methanol or glycerol based on the total weight of the solution, the solubility of the highly crystalline di choline folate salt is enhanced, and rises up to 25 weight-% (based on the total weight of the solution). A high degree of crystallinity means that the crystalline content of the folate salt is higher than 40% based on the total amount of the folate salt. A high solubility in a solvent means that the folate salt is soluble in an amount of more than 2 weight-% based on the total weight of the solution.

Example 2 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di Choline salt

13.72 g (28.9 mmol) of Levomefolic acid was suspended under argon in 70 ml methanol at 20-22° C. Then 160 ml (57.6 mmol, 0.360 mol/I in 1-propanol) of choline hydroxide solution was added at 20-22° C. during ca 3 mins, rinsed with 4 ml 1-propanol and the mixture stirred at 20-22° C. until a clear solution is formed. Then an additional 13.5 ml 1-propanol was added and the reaction mixture evaporated at 50° C./50 mbar followed by co-evaporation twice with 11 ml 1-propanol resulting in 43.6 g remainder. The remainder was diluted with 140 ml 1-propanol under argon and heated to 65° C. external temperature. Addition of seed crystals and 5.25 ml water was added slowly at 65° C. till turbidity lasts (ca 3.7% w/w water) while crystallization starts. The mixture was stirred, and the temperature reduced over 20 mins to 50° C., then was left cooling to 30° C. and the formed thick suspension stirred for 70 mins at 2-8° C. The crystals were isolated, washed with 4 ml of a mixture of 1-propanol/water 31:1 (v/v) and 24 ml 1-propanol and dried at 45-60° C./50-5 mbar yielding in 16.1 g L-MTHF di-choline. Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.60 d 2H 6.68 d 2H 4.24 m 1H 3.98 m 4H 3.44 m 1H 3.43 m 4H 3.25 m 1H 3.11 s 18H 3.10 m 1H 3.01 m 1H 2.91 m 1H 2.47 s 3H 2.24 m 2H 2.09 m 1H 1.96 m 1H

-   -   Crystal water in L-MTHF di choline: 2.0 calculated (KF &         microanalysis)     -   Melting point: 232-233° C. (DSC)

Example 3 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid mono 2-Dimethylaminoethanol salt

2.00 g (4.353 mmol) of Levomefolic acid was placed under argon in 20 ml water, with a small amount of cysteine and heated to 70° C. This suspension was then treated with 876 μl (8.706 mmol, 2 equivalents) of 2-dimethylaminoethanol and stirred at 70° C. until a clear solution is formed. Isopropanol is then added gradually, at 70° C. for a total of 150 ml. When turbidity is reached, further 70 ml 2-propanol was added, and the mixture was treated with seeding crystals to initiate crystallization ca. 60° C. (ca 10.4% water in 2-propanol). The mixture was then slowly and gradually cooled down from 60° C. to 2-8° C. The crystals were sucked off, washed with cooled 2-propanol and dried under vacuum at 50° C. to give 1.96 g of the title compound as white crystals. Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.52 d 2H 6.57 d 2H 4.22 m 1H 3.77 t 2H 3.54 d 1H 3.44 m 1H 3.36 d 1H 3.16 t 2H 3.13 m 2H 2.80 s 6H 2.72 s 3H 2.25 m 2H 2.08 m 1H 1.93 m 1H

-   -   Optical rotation: α^(20D) +11.0° (c=1 H₂O)     -   Crystal water in L-MTHF mono dimethylaminoethanol (L-MTHF mono         deanol): 1.5 (Thermogravimetry (TG)), KF and microanalysis)     -   Melting point: 194° C. (DSC)

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis:

Peaklist of the Diffractogram

No d Ang-COG I-net FWHM I-rel J-Net 2-Theta 1 13.6684 7.5233 9470.26 0.2310 100 2894.68 7.5046 2 9.9307 10.3232 710.95 0.9077 8 391.22 10.3357 3 9.5756 10.6907 607.82 0.3028 6 223.97 10.7202 4 6.8805 14.9391 2380.98 0.4596 25 1418.01 14.9399 5 8.4302 15.9944 3163.04 1.4612 33 1670.87 15.9927 6 6.2593 16.4307 3578.72 1.1601 38 1774.58 16.4324 7 6.0417 17.0682 5216.61 0.7659 55 3394.07 17.0285 8 5.6543 18.1396 688.23 0.5915 7 386.13 18.2046 9 5.2111 19.7680 5319.67 0.4234 56 2626.57 19.7678 10 5.0039 20.5988 3591.46 0.9940 38 2020.87 20.5952 11 4.7911 21.5345 3548.03 2.5379 37 2461.35 21.5206 12 4.5649 22.6170 5248.67 0.9850 55 3189.16 22.6006 13 4.5039 22.8777 4508.99 0.3774 48 1819.76 22.9112 14 4.2998 24.0040 1881.06 0.7021 20 1387.73 24.0146 15 3.8953 26.5510 6463.28 0.4562 68 3957.98 26.5512 16 3.7459 27.6194 4178.32 0.4823 44 2546.21 27.6310 17 3.5812 28.9363 828.80 0.5346 9 337.51 28.9290 18 3.5247 29.4240 1073.85 1.0007 11 464.63 29.4025 19 3.4418 30.1524 2737.43 0.7015 29 1965.10 30.1279 20 3.3365 31.1067 2846.76 0.6751 30 1995.56 31.1023 21 3.2373 32.1615 1268.85 0.8297 13 1096.14 32.0799 22 3.0986 33.5359 1322.74 0.6567 14 887.70 33.5578 23 3.0374 34.2707 429.00 0.4830 5 206.19 34.2546 24 2.9597 35.1596 638.14 0.4725 7 307.71 35.1834 25 2.8488 36.5824 366.65 0.7608 4 242.21 36.5996 26 2.8112 37.1123 320.16 7.7613 3 147.22 37.1069 27 2.7396 38.0825 844.44 0.8266 9 555.29 38.1133 28 2.6887 38.8946 861.16 0.8635 9 742.31 38.8641 29 2.5774 40.5869 709.09 0.6395 7 470.99 40.6144 30 2.4903 42.0647 537.66 0.7464 6 413.92 42.1022 31 2.3835 44.0766 910.34 0.6219 10 622.66 44.0852 32 2.2878 45.8070 416.47 1.0787 4 430.76 46.0321 33 2.1983 48.0532 495.68 0.7232 5 503.50 48.0218 34 2.1442 49.1828 301.25 0.4741 3 266.76 49.3120 35 2.0995 50.4760 322.22 0.5887 3 205.42 50.4360 36 1.9899 53.4212 165.35 0.5816 2 83.60 53.4250 37 1.9451 54.7129 268.96 0.7281 3 192.90 54.7570 38 1.9033 56.0921 150.49 1.1681 2 106.89 56.0650 39 1.8676 57.1017 325.25 0.9212 3 353.38 57.2340

Solubilities:

L-MTHF mono deanol Methanol Ethanol 1-Propanol DMSO Glycerol as % w/w 2.5 0.2 0.2 24.8 10.0

Example 4 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di 2-Dimethylaminoethanol salt

2.00 g (4.353 mmol) of Levomefolic acid was placed under argon in 20 ml 1-propanol and heated to reflux while added 800 μl water. This suspension was then treated with 876 μl (8.706 mmol, 2 equivalents) of 2-dimethylaminoethanol, diluted with 3.2 ml Water and stirred at 100° C. until a clear solution is formed. 1-propanol (7 ml) is then added and the solvent evaporated at 40° C. in vacuum. The remainder (3.68 g) is dissolved in 30 ml 2-propanol/10 ml water and concentration by distilling off solvent at 40° C. in vacuum until crystallization starts. The crystals are ultra-sonicated in 1-propanol for 5 mins at 20-25° C., suction filtered, washed 3× with 1-propanol and dried at 60° C./<1 mbar to give 2.34 g of the title compound as white crystals.

Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.56 d 2H 6.65 d 2H 4.19 m 1H 3.77 t 4H 3.40 dd 1H 3.20 d 1H 3.14 t 4H 3.03 m 1H 2.98 m 1H 2.88 m 1H 2.78 s 12H 2.42 s 3H 2.19 m 2H 2.04 m 1H 1.90 m 1H

-   -   Optical rotation: α^(20D) +31.6° (c=1 H₂O)     -   Melting point: 157° C. (DSC)

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis:

Peaklist of the Diffractogram

No d Ang-COG I-net FWHM I-rel J-Net 2-Theta 1 14.0264 7.3221 684.16 0.4542 12 350.96 7.3128 2 10.7387 9.5124 147.39 0.3087 3 99.32 9.5562 3 8.5793 11.9659 3827.45 0.3113 65 1509.53 11.9695 4 7.3055 14.0683 783.85 0.5613 13 422.23 14.0662 5 6.6092 15.5602 1894.13 0.4137 32 806.64 15.5568 6 6.2563 16.4475 758.74 0.2929 13 252.74 16.4401 7 5.7290 17.9585 914.79 0.2678 16 296.72 17.9653 8 5.4466 18.9296 4319.49 0.4041 73 1815.47 18.9052 9 5.3148 19.3540 2143.38 0.4838 36 1060.13 19.3785 10 5.1050 20.1728 2502.44 0.4373 42 1056.43 20.1832 11 4.9607 20.7797 5335.83 0.3688 91 2177.09 20.7764 12 4.7285 21.8488 636.07 38.2172 11 269.74 21.8091 13 4.5431 22.7256 5310.18 0.7702 90 3045.99 22.7108 14 4.4530 23.1802 3462.25 0.4717 59 1346.82 23.1766 15 4.2884 24.0652 2987.10 0.5048 51 1578.40 24.0792 16 4.1009 25.1956 5888.68 0.8595 100 4621.56 25.1978 17 3.9040 26.4667 456.79 0.4214 8 186.46 26.4910 18 3.7434 27.6505 1774.14 0.4150 30 767.41 27.6499 19 3.6319 28.5014 4389.60 0.5018 75 2312.58 28.5162 20 3.4970 29.6693 786.98 0.9137 13 322.45 29.6407 21 3.4424 30.1202 1186.49 0.4386 20 463.48 30.1222 22 3.3386 31.0657 5624.20 0.5631 96 3840.39 31.0817 23 3.1636 32.9104 830.07 1.1216 14 344.66 32.8487 24 3.0981 33.5246 1343.59 0.4286 23 891.70 33.5633 25 2.9942 34.7525 2763.00 0.5357 47 1698.80 34.7644 26 2.8791 36.1672 1408.74 0.6637 24 995.29 36.2011 27 2.8089 37.1428 428.50 0.4051 7 174.43 37.1385 28 2.7226 38.3845 643.20 0.5438 11 317.55 38.3613 29 2.6806 39.0598 1084.27 0.8242 18 844.28 38.9870 30 2.6003 40.3103 209.49 0.4927 4 92.65 40.2409 31 2.5244 41.4759 627.92 0.3926 11 255.91 41.5057 32 2.4873 42.1955 602.39 0.6451 10 382.81 42.1553 33 2.4198 43.4221 469.36 0.5143 8 239.86 43.3888 34 2.3583 44.5678 552.56 0.5226 9 281.36 44.5814 35 2.3067 45.6713 599.79 2.1984 10 388.97 45.6340 36 2.2812 46.1477 687.26 0.6662 12 408.64 46.1729 37 2.2316 47.2945 267.95 0.5005 5 141.88 47.2612 38 2.1791 48.4530 661.75 0.5796 11 395.13 48.4704 39 2.1463 49.2375 296.69 0.4052 5 113.58 49.2604 40 2.0839 50.7695 461.38 0.8775 8 353.88 50.8390 41 2.0376 52.2196 411.11 1.2246 7 423.01 52.0804 42 1.9609 54.3435 141.90 1.1565 2 151.92 54.2815 43 1.9155 55.7305 137.54 0.4928 2 76.14 55.6762 44 1.8923 56.4124 106.92 0.5866 2 62.03 56.4201 45 1.8409 58.1406 438.55 0.9046 7 350.41 58.1449

Example 5 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di N-methylaminoethanol salt

3.00 g (5.30 mmol) of Levomefolinate Calcium was placed under argon in 45 ml water, with a small amount of cysteine and heated to 70° C. The suspension obtained was then treated with 848 μl (10.60 mmol) of N-methylaminoethanol and 668 mg (5.30 mmol) oxalic acid dissolved in 5 ml water. The thin suspension was stirred at 70° C. for additional 5 mins than cooled to 0° C. and stirred for 50 mins. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the clear solution stabilized with a small amount of Cysteine and concentrated at 45° C./<200 mbar. To the remainder seed crystals were added and the product started slowly to crystallize which was completed at 2-8° C. The crystals were dried at 50° C./<1 mbar yielding 3.08 g crude product. The crude product is dissolved in 25 ml methanol, 1.21 ml (3 eq) N-methylaminoethanol and 5 ml 1-propanol. The turbid solution filtered, with 10 ml methanol washed, and the clear filtrate heated to 60° C. Then to the solution was added 65 ml 1-propanol, 150 μl water and 1 eq N-methylaminoethanol. The mixture was treated at 60° C. with seeding crystals to initiate crystallization and then slowly and gradually cooled down from 60° C. down to 0° C. The crystals were sucked off, washed with 1-propanol/methanol 2:1, then with 1-propanol and with ether. The isolated crystals were dried at 50° C./<1 mbar to give 2.60 g of the title compound as off-white crystals. Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.55 d 2H 6.64 d 2H 4.19 m 1H 3.73 t 4H 3.39 dd 1H 3.19 d 1H 3.06 t 4H 3.01 m 1H 2.96 m 1H 2.86 m 1H 2.63 s 6H 2.41 s 3H 2.20 m 2H 2.04 m 1H 1.92 m 1H

-   -   Optical rotation: α^(20D) +41.2° (c=1 H₂O)     -   Crystal water in L-MTHF di N-methylaminoethanol (L-MTHF di         NMAE): 1.5 (KF and microanalysis)     -   Melting point: 199° C. (DSC)

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis:

Peaklist of the Diffractogram

No d Ang-COG I-net FWHM I-rel J-Net 2-Theta 1 15.9239 6.4555 3447.22 0.2915 62 1310.88 6.4404 2 13.2430 7.7569 342.13 0.2693 6 107.43 7.7460 3 10.6647 9.6216 351.41 0.5243 6 168.18 9.6227 4 8.6455 11.8830 2065.04 0.3935 37 925.99 11.8775 5 8.0760 12.7075 1051.80 0.3851 19 463.22 12.7183 6 7.2379 14.1946 1692.36 0.4019 30 849.92 14.1982 7 6.4910 15.8352 1423.31 0.5448 26 769.40 15.8419 8 6.1912 16.5964 1776.39 0.3969 32 792.92 16.6144 9 5.8518 17.5782 1574.72 0.4159 28 677.72 17.5854 10 5.7065 18.0117 842.39 0.2941 15 320.19 18.0368 11 5.5184 18.6561 331.23 0.2270 6 75.32 18.6568 12 5.2649 19.5645 3100.77 0.5100 56 1789.83 19.5639 13 4.9150 20.8504 2849.68 0.8527 51 2518.15 20.9719 14 4.4919 22.9765 1560.48 0.5605 28 740.63 22.9732 15 4.3400 23.7913 5552.11 0.5205 100 3197.94 23.7886 16 4.1843 24.6733 1784.30 0.7474 32 985.69 24.6875 17 4.0907 25.2464 2221.96 0.7649 40 1019.95 25.2619 18 4.0153 25.7631 1954.24 54.7000 35 921.46 25.7440 19 3.9450 26.2167 2046.11 7.5545 37 1004.46 26.2108 20 3.8277 27.0229 2110.05 0.3186 38 1302.24 27.0293 21 3.6080 28.7332 2331.17 1.1356 42 1515.86 28.7091 22 3.5644 29.0745 2481.56 0.6321 45 907.72 29.0680 23 3.5241 29.5119 1950.57 0.6549 35 879.22 29.4083 24 3.3363 31.1061 1592.05 0.4227 29 764.29 31.1042 25 3.2265 32.1838 445.10 0.4686 8 191.02 32.1902 26 3.0955 33.5791 1288.22 0.6295 23 842.12 33.5921 27 3.0000 34.6824 424.90 0.3412 8 138.72 34.6950 28 2.8727 36.3015 582.88 0.9961 10 502.22 36.2851 29 2.8013 37.1978 392.89 0.4582 7 162.25 37.2432 30 2.6370 39.6821 342.70 0.9931 6 284.71 39.6573 31 2.5222 41.6802 376.12 0.7416 7 319.37 41.5443 32 2.4135 43.6281 295.28 1.0135 5 239.40 43.5084 33 2.3135 45.3960 385.86 0.9283 7 311.87 45.4926 34 2.0336 52.2798 182.37 0.8020 3 232.56 52.1894 35 1.8353 58.3600 257.19 0.6312 5 125.39 58.3372

Solubilities:

L-MTHF di NMAE Methanol Ethanol 1-Propanol DMSO Glycerol as % w/w 3.6 0.2 0.1 3.5 16.7

Example 6 Preparation of 5-Methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid di 2-Amino-2-methyl propanol salt

3.00 g (5.30 mmol) of Levomefolinate Calcium was placed under argon in 45 ml Water with small amounts of cysteine and heated to 70° C. This suspension was then treated with 1012 μl (10.60 mmol) of 2-amino-2-methylpropanol and 668 mg (5.30 mmol) oxalic acid dissolved in 5 ml water. At 70 OC the thin suspension was stirred for 5 mins than cooled to 000. The thin suspension was filtered, and the solution stabilized with cystein and concentrated at 45° C./<200 mbar. The remainder is treated with seed crystals and crystallization completed over night at 2-8° C. The crystals were dried at 50° C./1 mbar. The crude product was dissolved in 6.5 ml water and heated to 7000. The solution was diluted with 70 ml 1-propanol (10.4% water in 1-propanol), treated with seed crystals and slowly and gradually cooled to 20-23° C. The crystals were isolated and washed with 1-propanol/water 20:1 (v/v), 1-propanol and ether and dried at 500° C./<1 mbar to give 2.79 g of the title compound as off-white crystals. Analytical data:

δ (1H) in ppm Multiplicity Intensity 7.61 d 2H 6.70 d 2H 4.25 m 1H 3.49 s 4H 3.45 dd 1H 3.25 d 1H 3.08 m 1H 3.03 m 1H 2.93 m 1H 2.48 s 3H 2.24 m 2H 2.09 m 1H 1.96 m 1H 1.25 s 1H

-   -   Optical rotation: α^(20D) +34.6° (c=1 H₂O)     -   Crystal water in L-MTHF di 2-amino-2-methylpropanol: 1.5 (KF and         microanalysis)

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis:

Peaklist of the Diffractogram

No d Ang-COG I-net FWHM I-rel J-Net 2-Theta 1 16.9589 6.0659 1948.86 0.3358 40 861.63 6.0470 2 10.7625 9.5378 1271.39 0.4369 26 730.38 9.5351 3 8.5244 12.0441 565.44 0.4056 12 235.94 12.0468 4 7.6831 13.3727 593.37 0.3334 12 226.12 13.3716 5 6.9490 14.8004 1067.54 0.4564 22 546.58 14.7916 6 6.3851 16.0496 1711.61 0.7491 35 842.29 16.1064 7 6.2391 16.4806 1858.51 0.4576 38 838.10 16.4859 8 5.7750 17.8155 2430.06 0.7075 50 1790.36 17.8211 9 5.4350 18.9458 1719.22 0.4026 35 745.79 18.9460 10 5.1688 19.9140 1561.56 0.4133 32 699.72 19.9315 11 4.9968 20.6591 1530.23 1.9946 31 776.03 20.6246 12 4.8365 21.3238 3675.03 1.4192 75 2664.97 21.3161 13 4.6770 22.0378 3176.73 0.7791 65 1761.55 22.0522 14 4.5111 22.8596 4898.09 0.7549 100 3428.98 22.8737 15 4.3934 23.4643 2400.39 0.4554 49 1223.98 23.4953 16 4.0694 25.4175 1303.78 0.4489 27 651.63 25.3961 17 3.8398 26.8492 1292.38 0.9049 26 1144.63 26.9426 18 3.6304 28.5953 514.86 0.9570 11 345.40 28.5279 19 3.4132 30.1026 964.08 1.3324 20 1230.83 30.3861 20 3.2554 31.9288 1299.61 0.7547 27 1160.53 31.8976 21 3.1203 33.3269 752.36 1.0566 15 744.16 33.3176 22 2.9704 35.0505 339.01 0.6687 7 226.11 35.0518 23 2.8466 36.5760 999.03 1.1577 20 1112.09 36.6287 24 2.6992 38.6950 656.44 0.6515 13 430.95 38.7063 25 2.5723 40.7894 540.59 0.8748 11 421.04 40.6993 26 2.4455 42.9257 322.63 0.8876 7 229.25 42.9106 27 2.3190 45.3614 400.77 1.0942 8 474.93 45.3788 28 2.1088 50.1810 404.87 1.2316 8 398.23 50.1977

Solubilities:

L-MTHF di AMP Methanol Ethanol 1-Propanol DMSO Glycerol as % w/w 11.2 0.1 0.1 23.1 16.7

Example 7 Preparation of Cholin Hydroxide Solution Used in Example 2

10.39 g (74.42 mmol) of Choline chloride was placed under argon in a solution of 110 ml 1-Propanol and 3.02 g (74.42 mmol) sodium hydroxide at 20-25° C. The mixture was heated to 70-72° C. for ca 70 mins and heated to 70° C. This suspension was then cooled to 0-5° C. for 45 mins. The white suspension was filtered through a silica bed and the filtrate filled up in a volumetric flask up to 200 ml with 1-propanol. The concentration of choline hydroxide was 0.36 mol/I (as measured by titration) This solution was used as storage form of choline used for preparation of highly pure choline salts of folates. 

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. A crystalline folate salt comprising a tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation wherein the anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, and the cation is an organic compound wherein the organic compound is an alkanolamine selected from the group consisting of choline, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, N-methylaminoethanol, and 2-amino-2-methylpropanol.
 14. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the folate salts have a solubility of higher than 2 weight-% (w/w) based on a total weight of a solution at 20° C. in organic solvents.
 15. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the organic compound is di-choline.
 16. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the organic compound is mono-2-dimethylaminoethanol.
 17. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the organic compound is di 2-dimethylaminoethanol.
 18. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the organic compound is di-N-methylaminoethanol.
 19. The crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, wherein the organic compound is di-2-amino-2-methylpropanol.
 20. The crystalline folate acid salt according to claim 1, wherein the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is di-choline.
 21. The crystalline folate acid salt according to claim 1, wherein the tetrahydrofolic acid anion is 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid and the organic cation is mono-2-dimethylaminoethanol.
 22. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising at least one folate salt according to claim 1, as a main active compound and at least a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 23. A food additive, a medicament, or a nutritional supplement comprising the crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, for use as a medicament, a food additive or a nutritional supplement, for the prevention and/or treatment of either deficiencies or disorders that are positively affected by the administration of tetrahydrofolic acid salt.
 24. A method for preparing the crystalline folate salt according to claim 1, comprising crystallizing a folate salt comprising a tetrahydrofolic acid anion and an organic cation from an organic solvent comprising water in a range of 0.2 weight-% to 12 weight-% based on a weight of the organic solvent comprising the water.
 25. A method of treating deficiencies or disorders that are positively affected by the administration of a tetrahydrofolic acid salt, comprising administering the crystalline folate salt according to claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.
 26. A method of preventing deficiencies or disorders that are positively affected by the administration of a tetrahydrofolic acid salt, comprising administering the crystalline folate salt according to claim 1 to a patient in need thereof. 